The Yankees passed their first test of the regular season with flying colors, tranquilizing the Giants in a three-game sweep. Now, following an unconventional Sunday off, the Yankees will pay a visit to a popular preseason World Series pick: the Seattle Mariners.

The M’s, of course, came a game away from reaching the Fall Classic last season, but faltered late against the Blue Jays. Much like the Yankees, they’ve returned with a very similar roster from last year, and their pitching rotation is the same lethal crew we’ve gotten familiar with over the past few seasons. Luis Castillo will face the Yankee lineup, while Ryan Weathers faces a stout test in his Yankee debut.

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Weathers had his share of struggles in spring training, but he also flashed the wipeout stuff which made the Yankees zero in on him as a sleeper pick for their rotation. Despite an ERA over 8 in Grapefruit League play, he ultimately made the starting rotation over Luis Gil, and tonight will be something of a referendum on whether that decision was a good one.

Castillo is somehow already entering his age-33 season. The affable righty and three-time All Star hasn’t quite been a top-flight arm in recent years, but given the Mariners’ embarrassment of riches in their staff, he doesn’t need to. All Seattle really needs out of him is another season like the ones he’s put out lately: an ERA around 3.50 and at least 30 starts. While he’s theoretically a poor matchup for the Yankees given his tendency to give up the long ball, he’s excelled against the Bombers in his career.

It’s the top-flight lineup tonight for Aaron Boone’s club. Many of the lefties have been stacked together against Castillo: Cody Bellinger and Ben Rice will hit consecutively, as will Jazz Chisholm Jr., Ryan McMahon, and Austin Wells. What’s more notable is an absence in Dan Wilson’s starting nine. The Mariners are giving star catcher Cal Raleigh the night off following his struggles in Seattle’s four-game opening series against Cleveland. Raleigh only went 2-for-15 with ten strikeouts against Guardians pitching. So instead Mitch Garver will catch, and lefty-smasher Rob Refsnyder will start at DH. Can the M’s recreate Raleigh’s production in the aggregate? There’s only one way to find out.

How to watch

Location: T-Mobile Park — Seattle, WA

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First pitch: 9:40 pm ET

TV broadcast: YES

Radio broadcast: WFAN 660/101.9 FM, WADO 1280, Seattle Sports (710 AM)

Online stream: Gotham Sports App, MLB.tv (out-of-market)

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